Is This The Next Doctor?

So, while there's been lots of rumors that Matt Smith will be leaving at Christmas, helped by the fact the when asked in interviews he won't commit himself to anything beyond that point, up until now there haven't been any actualy names being floated for his replacement.

But now there's one. Ben Daniels; a name that I expect has just elicited a "Who the hell's that?" from most of you. (It certainly did from me.)

You have probably seen him before though, just not in any flashy leading roles. And that's what makes an interesting choice to throw out there.

We could all put together a realistic sounding list of candidates for the part but I don't think any such list would have had his name on it. And if someone is needed to shoot a Regeneration Secene in September they'd be cast round about now.

Obviously the name could have been picked by a hoaxer precisely because he's not an obvious choice or he could just turn out to be this year's Patterson Joseph but if it does turn out to be correct than it would be a move away from the last two inhabitants of the role back towards a more traditionaly Doctorish actor.

Oh I know him, last seen as Tristan in a couple of episodes of Merlin. You're right though, until I looked up some pics I had no idea.

Like you say could just be a random name. There'd be pluses and minues to casting of him or someone like him of course.

On the plus side an older Doctor would be nice (much as I love Smith) again, and though he's 48 he doesn't really look it. The upside to casting a character actor of that kind of age is of course that they probably aren't going to want to nip off and try and crack Hollywood after a couple of years. Someone of that background may see the Doctor more as the pinnacle of their career than a launching point (which let's face it even fanboy Tennant did) and we may get some really continuity of 4/5 years in the role.

On the downside the filming schedule of nuWho has been claimed to be quite punishing, and obviously he won't be getting any younger. You also have to add in that, given his age and how long he's been around in the business, why he's never got a lead role before now? (Of course you could have said the same about Paterson Joseph and I wanted him to get the role).

If there is going to be a 12th (or 13th ) Doctor cast I doubt they can keep it a secret much longer.

I, on the other hand, know Ben Daniels and love his acting. I first saw him on Law & Order: UK and more recently on Netflix's House of Cards. While, he wouldn't be my first choice for The Doctor (Eddie Izzard! Eddie Izzard!), I would be very intrigued to see what he would bring to role. I would also love to see an older actor take on the role.

I was pretty sure before but reading that has utterly convinced me that they're a fake, since it's mostly backtracking on what they said originally after seeing people point out stuff like Chibnall confirming he is writing a script for Series 8.

I know he's seen as this irrationally polarizing figure in the UK, and I used to trust that opinion because I didn't know better and he seemed to be a showoff and have an irritating voice but now that I've seen a couple of interviews of the guy and read what he wrote about the death of Thatcher, I've realized that he's a very bright, articulate and entertaining fellow. Still no big fan of his standup comedy, but that's not what this is about.

Anyway. Yeah, Ben Daniels. What about him? Has he done anything since C3PO?

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Anthony Daniels plays C3PO. Ben Daniels was the senior crown prosecutor (the Sam Waterston equivalent) in the first four seasons of Law & Order: UK -- with Freema Agyeman as his junior prosecutor, so it would be kind of a turnabout thing if he went from L&O:UK to Doctor Who. (Not to mention that after he left, Peter Davison took over as the DA-equivalent character!)